DuceNova

I have two E-flite 12502S mAh 7.4 volt LiPo batteries. After setting up the profile for them and selecting the Auto Cycle for them, it immediately goes to discharge them. Is this normal? Isn't it a bad thing to discharge them then charge them because batteries are only good for so many charging cycles?

On the Charge (only) cycle SOMETIMES it goes to the 1.50 amp charging amperage but then again, SOMETIMES it goes into the "trickle" charge mode. Why does it do this? I thought that it was a bad idea to trickle charge LiPo batteries (plus it takes FOREVER to charge them this way).

John

Tim@MRC

If you select the "Auto Cycle" Mode, then yes, it always starts with a discharge, then goes to charge. Most people consider a cycle as a full charge/discharge or a discharge/charge. Ours just happens to do the discharge first. You really shouldn't have to cycle LiPos, the only reason I would, is to check the capacity of the battery.
What charge rate on you setting on the profile for those batteries? The "Trickle" on the LiPo mode is not a true trickle, but the Contant Voltage part of the CC/CV charge scheme. When it shuts off from that, the battery is fully charged. LiPos generally take over an hour to charge at a 1C charge rate, usually up to 1 hour and 20 minutes. The 989 will allow you to charge up to 1.25 times the entered capacity.

DuceNova

Thanks for the reply. You've taken the mystery out of it all. My concern was maily when the charger was saying that it was "trickle" charging which you say it really isn't doing (we used to call that a "come to momma code"computer was dumb so it threw a code just to say something even if it wasn't right! LOL!).

Tim@MRC

No problem, anytime. Also, sometimes it's hard to explain why Electrical Engineers do what they do. Let me know if you have any other questions.

DuceNova

Tim:

I could write a book about engineers (chemical drains on the high end of a tank, $1.5 millon dollar LASER that was the wrong color to etch boards) as I was a Senior Automated Equipment Specialist (shift mechanic) at IBM for almost 16 years. I couldn't be an engineer as my parents were married! (sorry, I couldn't resisit). LOL!